Multiple cluster-socket.



PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908.

G. D. GERVIN MULTIPLE CLUSTER SOCKET. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 16,1907.

a luon 1013s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES D. GERVIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO JOHN H. DALE, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

MULTIPLE CLUSTER-SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

Application filed July 16, 1907. Serial No. 384,102.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES D. GERVIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of New York, in the borough of Manhattan and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMultiple Cluster-Sockets, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to cluster lamp sockets or receptacles, andparticularly those in which ordinary incandescent lamps having athreaded base may be symmetrically supported by a central frame or partand con nected in a single multiple circuit.

The invention consists particularly in the mechanical features ofconstruction and in the arrangement by which the electrical connectionsare made. I

The main purpose or object in view is to reduce the number of parts andgenerally to simplify and cheapen the construction of this type of lampsocket as much as possible.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view looking into a multiple clustersocket embodying the principles of my invention; the usual cover isremoved in this figure; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same;Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the construction of an insulating blockforming part of the device; Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the same; andFig. 5 is a side view.

Onc of the main features of the present invention lies in thecharacteristic by which sockets for different numbers of lamps can bemade from the same stock parts. In order to obtain this result there areprovided means by which threaded shells can be at tached to a centralinsulating block in different spaced apart relations, and also means bywhich a common central stud terminal for the lamps is applicable theretoregardless of how they may be spaced. The various fastening devices alsoconstitute electrical .connections, and they are so designed that theparts may be assembled or grouped in different ways to accommodatedifferent numbers of lamps.

Referring to the drawings in which like parts are designated by the samereference sign, 1 indicates a casing conveniently of hemispherical form,and havin openings 2, spaced symmetrically thereal iout. -There may beany number of these openings, and in practice the casings would beperforated to suit the particular number of threaded shells assembled inthe manner hereinafter described.

3 indicates the central insulating block to which the threaded shellsare attached. As shown particularly in Fig. 3, this block is perforatedwith various holes 4, which correspond to divisions of sixths, fifths,fourths, thirds and halves of a circle. It is evident that certain ofthese holes serve as common divisions in the above; for example, thehole 4 serves as a division in every case, while the holes 4 serve onlyas divisions for thirds and sixths. The holes 4 serve only as divisionsof the circle into fifths. I am aware that this general scheme ordivision is not broadly new, being disclosed in Patent No. 844,276, butI regard the particular use and arrangement thereof as herein shown, asconstituting my invention.

The insulating block 3 is grooved at 5, upon its periphery which is madecircular. At a point between two of the divisions 4, there is a deepradial roove 6, connecting with the circumferentia groove 5. Extendingaround the circumferential groove 5, and projecting radially into thegroove 6, there is a stout resilient strip, wire or band 7,.which isspringy and elastic enough to be sprung into the groove and be retainedtightly there in by its own resiliency.

8 denotes a central binding post or screw which is connected to the wire7 so as to make a permanent electrical connection therewith.

By reason of the resilient character of the wire 7 it is capable ofyieldin r inward slightly when engaged by the centreil stud terminals ofthe lamps. This wire does not fit absolutely tight in its containinggroove and the engagement of the lamps deforms it slightly in oppositionto its resiliency. Accordingly it is impossible for any slight jarrin ofthe lamps to destroy the central stud e ectrical connection because theelasticity of the wire 7 is sufficient to accommodate any slightmovement or loosening which might occur from jar or vibration. Thespring pressure moreover exerts an effect to keep the lamps tightly heldin their containin sockets.

The threaded shells for t 1e lamps are shown at 9. Each has a pair ofears 10 and 11, extending therefrom at diametrically opposite points.These ears are bent so as to ie in parallel spaced apart relation to oneanother in a direction diagonal to the axes of the shells. adapted toembrace the insulating block 3, fitting closely against the upper andlower surfaces thereof, as clearly shownin Fig. 2. Each of the cars isperforated by holes in alinement with one another in a directionperpendicular to their plane, and rivets or fasteners .12 are adapted tobe passed through these holes and through the holes 4 of the block 3, soas to secure the shells thereon. It will be evident that the fasteners12 may be passed through any desired holes 4, so that the threadedshells can be. grouped in any desired combination or number around theblock. In the drawing four shells are shown assembled in this way,corresponding to the number of openings in the casing 1. The variousparts are finally permanently fixed in their relation by the insulatingbushings 13, which screw upon the threaded shells and engage the casing1 through the openings 2 thereof. 7

For the purpose of making electrical con nection from a common bindingpost to the various threaded shells I employ a ring 14, over which eachof the fasteners 12 is looped or engaged, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

15 indicates a screw engaging this ring and extending upward through theinsulating block 3 to a binding post 16. he circuit wires beingconnected to the binding posts 8 and 16, it will be clear that anoperative multiple cluster socket is produced in which the lamps engagethe wire 7, fixed to bind ing post 8, with their central stud terminals,and complete the circuit to the binding post 16 through their threadedshells.

A feature of the construction lies in the provision of notches 17, inthe various threaded shells at points diametrically opposite from oneanother on a diameter at right an les to that of the ears 10 and 11. hewit. th of these notches is not sufficient to in clude all of thematerial of the shells between the ears, but is nevertheless sufficientto se arate the shells widely from the wire 7. w iich constitutes thecentral stud terminal for the. lamps. V This is a very advantageousconstruction, since it provides adequate. insulation without weakeningthe shells to the extent which they would be weakened if this insulationdistance was provided solely by making the ears 10 and 11 of theconsiderable length which would be required in the absence of thenotches 1.7.

What I claim is 1. A multiple cluster socket comprising an nsulatingblock, a plurality of socket shells electrically connected to each otherand arranged about and having ortions secured to In this relation theears are l insulating block, a plurality of socket shells 5 arrangedabout and having portionssecured to said block, means fastened to theblock and elcctrically connecting togcthcr all of said shells, and a.metallic strip extending around said block between said portions andconstituting a common central terminal for a plurality of lamps.

3. A multiple cluster socket comprising an insulating block with acircuinferential groove, a resilient strip contained in said groove andconstituting a central terminal for aplurality of lamps, and shellspositioned around said block.

4. A multi )le cluster socket comprising an insulating bl ock having acircumferential groove, a resilient wire therein and constituting acentral terminal for a plurality of lamps, and shells positioned aroundsaid block.

5. A multiple cluster socket; comprising an insulating block, aresilient strip loosely surrounding the same and capable of elasticdeformation from a circular outline and constituting a central terminalfor a plurality of lamps and shells positioned around said block.

6. A multiple lamp socket comprising an insulating block having acircumferential groove, a resilient wire loosely contained therein andcapable of elastic deformation from a circular outline and constitutinga. central terminal for a plurality of lamps, and shells positionedaround said block.

7. A multiple lamp socket comprising a circular insulating block havinga circumferential groove and having a deep radial groove conu'nunicatingtherewith, a stout rcsilient metallic wire sprung in said grooves andheld therein by its resiliency, and threaded shells positioned aroundsaid block.

8. A multiple cluster socket comprising an insulating block having aplurality of holes corresponding to various different e ual angulardivisions of a single circle, she ls each having a pair of cars, meansfor engaging said ears with any desired holes, and a. common centralterminal.

9. A multiple lamp socket comprising an insulating block havingdifferently angularly spaced holes and having a circumferential groove,a circular metallic part extending around the block in said groove,threaded shells, and means engaging said shells and passed through anydesired holes in said block.

10. A multiple lamp socket comprising an insulating block having holesextending perpendicularly therethrough, threaded shells having ears bentto extend in parallel relation to one another, and in a directiondiagonal to the axes of the shells, means passed through said holes forengaging said ears, and a common central terminal.

11. A multiple lamp socket comprising an insulating block, threadedshells having ears extending therefrom at diametrically opposite points,means engaging said ears to secure the shells to said block, and asingle central terminal extending around said block between said ears.

12. A multiple lamp socket comprising an insulating block havin holes,threaded shells having ears extendmg therefrom at diametrically oppositepoints, said shells being notched intermediate the ears, means passedthrou h said holes for engaging said ears, and a sing e central terminalextending around said block 0 posite said notches.

13. A mu t1 le lamp socket comprising an insulating bloc threaded shellshaving ears extending therefrom at diametrically op osite points, meansengaging said ears to asten the shells to said block, means forelectrically connecting together the various shells, and a singlecentral terminal extending around said block between said ears.

14. A multiple lamp socket comprising an insulating block, threadedshells having ears extending therefrom at diametrically opposite points,said shells being notched intermediate the ears, means enga ing saidears for fastening the shells to sai block, and a single centralterminal extending around said block opposite said notches.

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES D. GERVIN. Witnesses: V

WALDO M. CHAPIN, JAMES DAN'roNIo.

